The Exotic Teapot

So you do not have time to relax and enjoy your cup of special green tea? Days of worry are over; all you need to do is to pop a green tea capsule! For all green tea lovers, you now have the option of thinking beyond tea pots and tea cups. Have it on the go, while you are heading out or even in the park, when you want it is when you have it. It is certainly a fast and effective way of never missing out on your favorite tea again.

If you are hungry then you can eat tea snacks. They are healthy, they are the latest fad and they are nutritious. Yes, now tea is being worked upon and being served as a snack too. Chinese chefs have come up with recipes that include tea not just as a flavored ingredient but also being served as food. Green tea is now being extensively used to make snacks and dishes. Green tea with walnut and lettuce is a popular and healthy dish. So, next time want a healthy snack? Try tea.

For centuries tea has entered the political arena hence impacting societies, prosperity and traditions around the world.  In 1391 the Ming Dynasty in China ruled that loose teas were to be honoured by the courts instead of tea bricks.  In 1773 a historical event in the soon to be USA occurred, rebuking taxation of tea from the British Parliament. This was instrumental to the American Revolution.  Today, if using a US search engine such as Google.com then typing in tea party over 72,500 links appear, with the first page and many more associated with the current political movement called the tea party.  These are just two nations’ examples.  The history of tea and its benefits indicate what a precious commodity it truly is.   

According to accredited research drinking tea can boost your mental state. Tea has amino acid L-theanine which helps the brain relax and stay focused.  Drinking 4 cups daily of black tea lowers cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.  Red teas are known to relax irritations; green tea studies have shown that 2 cups daily reduce the risk of confusion by 50%.  The infamous late British actor and play writer, Arthur W. Pinero was correct:  Where there’s tea there’s hope.

A study published in General Denistry reported that drinking green tea is better for your teeth than sodas or juices.  Bottled green teas do not apply as these contain citric acid and sugars.  These ingredients, along with milk, are harmful because they have an erosive effect on the teeth.  Green tea made at home, using fresh tea leaves and pure water, is the only way to attain the beneficial flavonoids and antioxidants the beverage naturally contains. 

Any day of the year is prime time for displaying flowers.  Research dating back to 1938 has shown that blooming flowers and dried petals emit an aroma and visual calming effect for humans.  One of the most notable studies is referred to as the Bach system.  One physician using this treatment said “the strength of flower therapy lies in the normalization of psychic disruptions and the resolution of inner conflicts.”  This combined with the many health advantages of drinking tea is a winning combination for a party, as photographer Lauren Rubenstein has shown.

We just received the first batch of 2010 Spring teas and in particular our full range of flowering teas. It's the culmination of a few hard weeks of traveling through India and China to visit our tea masters and teaware producer. Despite an inevitable shortage of premium tea this year, we think we've managed to secure some very high quality tea. We hope our customers enjoy tasting our fresh 2010 spring tea as much as we have. You can read more about our trip here.

There are many reasons to select tea and associated wares as a gift set.  The gift card to the recipient(s) and the chosen items in the set can easily be catered to his/her personality.  Here are just three of many options when personalizing a gift set.

1. For the health conscious friend gift card:  You are what you drink (include green, white or herbal teas)
2. For the one that schedules too many activities:  There is always time for tea (include single mug infuser)
3. For the optimist card:  With this gift, each day will blossom (include clear glass teapot with flowering tea)

Being an avid admirer of all tea-related topics, yet still certainly a novice compared to others, I am frequently asked about drinking tea for weight reduction purposes.  I believe the adage “it’s too good to be true” applies with many quick-fix weight loss teas.  What is applicable is that tea originating from the centuries old Camellia Sinensis plant has been proven time and time again to aid in digestion and naturally speed up metabolism.  If it is an herbal tea with such claims you likely can find a long history of its use from the country in which it originated; if there is none, to me reluctance surfaces.  I’ll stick to purchasing loose leaves from a reputable tea company.